The Nine Cauldrons
chapter-10

Even if Teng Qingshan continued staying in the Gui Yuan Sect, he wouldn’t be able to provide any assistance in the forging of the Fiery Gilt Steel Armor. Therefore, the next morning, Teng Qingshan led his own men and returned to Nanxing County.

At Li Residence’s training field in Nanxing County:

“Roar~Roar~~” The Six Legged Bladelike Chi happily emitted deep roars at Teng Qingshan.

This time, Teng Qingshan had left for around eight to nine days. So, during these eight or nine days, the Six Legged Bladelike Chi hadn’t had the chance to watch Teng Qingshan practice his 《Metal Element Fist》.

“Bladelike Chi, aren’t you diligent now? When we were in Duanmu Continent, you were so lazy that you slept every day and night, and yet you are working so hard now.” Teng Qingshan grinned as he patted the cold and terrifying bladelike legs of the Six Legged Bladelike Chi on the ground. There were even sharp tiny spikes on the bladelike legs.

“Qingshan, the Six Legged Bladelike Chi is jealous of Little Blue. So, of course, it has to be diligent,” Li Jun said with a grin.

“Has everything been alright during the few days I’ve been gone?” Teng Qingshan asked.p

“Everything has been fine,” Li Jun nodded as she said this. Their currently peaceful and happy life had given Li Jun a poised aura.

Teng Qingshan turned and stared at the two disciples standing before him.

“Teacher,” Teng Shou and Yang Dong greeted respectfully.

“Ah Dong.” Teng Qingshan looked at Yang Dong as he said, “Let me watch you practice the 《Forty-nine Azure Lotus Strikes》 which I taught you before I left.”

“Yes, Teacher.”

Yang Dong held a bamboo pole in his hands. However, this bamboo pole was no ordinary bamboo pole. It was a sword sheath made with high-quality azure steel. It had been specially forged to resemble a bamboo pole in order to confuse others.

“Whew!”

As Yang Dong drew his sword, his entire being moved in a strange curved path. He seemed to have transformed into a gust of wind. The sword in his hand was like the flicking tongue of a viper, and each thrust of the sword made a “Hiss” sound.

Yang Dong was slightly rotund. Thus, when he used Qing Gong, he looked like a chubby bottle gourd, swirling continuously.

“Eh?” Teng Qingshan’s eyebrows raised up, and he thought to himself, “Yang Dong is certainly talented in the cultivation of sword art. He performed it right. The Azure Lotus Sword Art is mainly fast and whimsical, and Yang Dong did indeed perform the sword art in a fast and eerie manner.

“Within a period of eight to nine days, his accomplishment in sword art has become almost on par with that of his father, Old Wang.”

Teng Qingshan had been very disappointed when he watched Yang Dong practice fist art.

However, the result of Yang Dong’s training in sword art was beyond Teng Qingshan’s expectations. In fact, Yang Dong’s sword art had surprised and enraptured Teng Qingshan.

Actually, it wasn’t weird for Yang Dong to be this adept in sword arts… Before Yang Dong knew Teng Qingshan, Yang Dong had created his own sword art. With diligence, he had practiced over ten thousand times a day. Therefore, Yang Dong’s foundation in the sword arts was very stable. The 《Forty-nine Azure Lotus Strikes》, the sword art Yang Dong was currently practicing, originated from the Azure Lotus Sword Art, which had been created by the Omnipotent Expert, Li Taibai. Teng Qingshan had revised the Azure Lotus Sword Art according to Yang Dong’s temperament and produced the《Forty-nine Azure Lotus Strikes》. Thus, the 《Forty-nine Azure Lotus Strikes》 truly suited Yang Dong.

The sword art, the 《Forty-nine Azure Lotus Strikes》, was broad and profound. Almost every single time Yang Dong practiced this sword art, he felt enlightened. Thanks to the foundation he built through several years of training when he had still been a teenager, Yang Dong was now able to improve quickly and continuously.

“Whew.”

When Yang Dong completed his practice of the sword art, he ended with the finishing move and stared at Teng Qingshan with anticipation and pleasure flickering in his eyes.

Yang Dong believed that… none of his contemporaries could surpass him in the cultivation of sword. Moreover, Li Jun had also spoken highly of his sword art.

“Just as I initially thought, Ah Dong possesses naturally great wits and determination. However, because of his young age, he may end up becoming conceited.” Teng Qingshan knew well that the most dreadful thing for a phenom was pride! If a phenom became too conceited, their cultivation would be limited in the future.

“Yes. It seems like you did not idle about during these eight to nine days.” Teng Qingshan showed a half-smile and said, “However, your sword art is still not good enough. When I was your age, my spear art had already reached a much higher level than yours. Additionally, I created that spear art entirely by myself.

Hearing this, Yang Dong froze.

“Even the core disciples of the eight Supreme Sects in the Land of the Nine Prefectures are not qualified to learn the sword art you are currently learning.” Teng Qingshan said coldly, “Now, you have only learned the superficial features of this sword art. However, that is not your fault since you have only learned this sword art for eight to nine days. It’s already considered good that you’ve managed to acquire the superficial knowledge of this sword art.”

Negative emotions surged through Yang Dong’s heart as he heard these words. He felt somewhat indignant. ‘Superficial? The skill of my sword art is only considered superficial?’

In the past, Yang Dong had mixed amidst bandits, thus, he knew his own ability well and was aware of how much stronger he was in comparison to ordinary people.

“Teacher…” Yang Dong couldn’t help wanting to express his thoughts.

“Continue practicing,” Teng Qingshan interjected calmly. “You have only acquired shallow knowledge of the sword art. If you can make small achievements in the cultivation of this sword art, I will allow you to train by venturing the outside world.”

‘Shallow?’

Yang Dong did indeed feel indignant. However, when he thought of his teacher’s powerful ability, he felt extremely discouraged. When they had been in Duanmu Continent, he hadn’t know Teng Qingshan’s age. He had only known of Teng Qingshan’s age during their journey back to the Land of the Nine Prefectures… In the Land of the Nine Prefectures, Yang Dong had often heard others mention the name ‘Teng Qingshan’ while strolling near restaurants and other places.

“A 21-year-old Emptiness Realm Expert! A 21-years-old Martial Immortal!”

“Additionally, he created an Internal Martial Art.”

“Compared to teacher, it is true that I still have a long way to go.” It suddenly dawned upon Yang Dong as he thought to himself, “Yes, what’s the point of competing with ordinary bandits? If I have to compete with someone, it should be with the authentic top-ranking figures. I have a teacher, but Teacher created his own art by himself. Yet, such little achievements already satisfied me?

“Moreover, according to Teacher, even a Hollow Dan Innate Expert is no match against Senior Martial Brother, and Senior Martial Brother is not even 20 years old. He’s only a few years older than me.

“I can’t even compete against Senior Martial Brother, not to mention teacher.”

With this comparison, Yang Dong perceived the difference and was no longer proud.

However, Yang Dong wasn’t someone who could be discouraged easily. “Even if I can’t compete against Teacher, I must at least be on par with Senior Martial Brother!”

“Teacher,” Yang Dong said solemnly, “This disciple will definitely practice the sword art assiduously.”

“Yes.” Teng Qingshan smiled as he responded with a nod.

……

In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed by.

“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!”

Teng Qingshan stood on the edge of the training field. He stared at Yang Dong’s chubby physique moving like a turtle at times and also fast like a cunning hare at other times. The irregular changes in speed appeared very strange. The timing and position of the sword strikes were also extremely eerie. The moves were unpredictable, unconstrained, and extremely erratic.

“Yes.” Teng Qingshan smiled and said, “Ah Dong favors the cunning and eerie style, the kind of sword art which has sneak attacks. His style is different from Li Taibai’s free, easy, and unrestrained style…”

The Azure Lotus Sword Art was one of the four Sword Codices.

The moves of this sword art were originally supposed to be elegant, free, and erratic. However, the sword art might display a different style if it were performed by someone else. Teng Qingshan had simplified and revised the Azure Lotus Sword Art, creating the 《Forty-nine Azure Lotus Strikes》. After the modification and simplification, the moves the《Forty-nine Azure Lotus Strikes》 produced were rather fierce and rapid. When Yang Dong performed this sword art, his moves displayed a very different style. If Yang Dong were taught by an ordinary teacher, he would have been reprimanded.

However, Teng Qingshan was very satisfied.

“Ah Dong! Ah Shou!” Teng Qingshan shouted.

Yang Dong and Teng Shou stopped practicing and rushed over.

“Teacher.” The two stared at Teng Qingshan respectfully. Once a teacher, forever a father-figure! A teacher teaches the disciples the skills to survive in the world. Regardless of whether it’s in Duanmu Continent, the Land of the Nine Prefectures, or even in Teng Qingshan’s previous life, all disciples respected their teachers like how they respected their fathers.

“Ah Dong, your sword art has improved,” Teng Qingshan said with a smile, “However, your style is slightly weird and cunning. It is a sword art used for killing.”

“Since it’s a sword art used for killing, it can only be perfected through killing. Killing is the only way you can make great improvements. Otherwise, all the effort you put into your training will be wasted.” The moment Teng Qingshan finished his words, Yang Dong’s eyes lit up. He had already guessed what Teng Qingshan was trying to say—Teng Qingshan was going to let him train in the outside world.

Teng Qingshan flicked a glance at Yang Dong and said to himself, “This second disciple of mine is too smart. I am just too worried that this fellow may become the victim of his own ingenuity.”

“Ah Shou, Ah Dong.”

Teng Qingshan took out a map from his bosom and threw it to Teng Shou while saying, “This is the map of Yangzhou.”

Recently, Teng Shou and Yang Dong were learning how to read the written language of the Land of the Nine Prefectures. As the written language of the Land of the Nine Prefectures and Duanmu Continent were the same during Emperor Yu’s time, learning it wasn’t difficult. Presently, Teng Shou and Yang Dong had already learned many words.

“The first mountain range of Yangzhou is Tai Ah Mountain Range. The Tai Ah Mountain Range crosses over the land of three counties and has a ridgeline six hundred Li in length. Many merchants have passed through the Tai Ah Mountain Range, resulting in a great number of bandits in Tai Ah Mountain Range.” Teng Qingshan said solemnly, “There are eight great gangs and countless ordinary bandits in the Tai Ah Mountain Range. Several hundred thousand bandits dwelled there. They normally hustled throughout the entire forest and occasionally plundered the merchants that passed by.”

Teng Qingshan’s words caused Teng Shou’s and Yang Dong’s eyes to light up.

‘Several hundred thousand bandits?’

In Duanmu Continent, it was impossible to have such a high number of bandits. As the clans in Duanmu Continent contended with one another, the bandits were very weak. A gang of several hundred bandits was already considered as a very big gang.

“I want you two to go to Ah Tai Mountain Range.” Teng Qingshan ordered, “Establish a gang with at least two thousand members within one year.”

“Haha, Teacher, don’t worry. You asked Senior Martial Brother to go with me? With Senior Martial Brother, who is an innate expert, and me… I am confident that we can establish a great gang of twenty thousand people, not to mention two thousand,” Yang Dong said as he grinned with content. “Bandit gangs thrive by bullying the weaker ones. It’s very simple.”

Teng Qingshan shook his head helplessly.

His second disciple had grown up with the bandits, so he would be the most adept at doing this.

“Remember,” Teng Qingshan said solemnly, “The gang can only accept the dauntless men! Secondly, this gang is not allowed to bully the elderly, the weak, women, or children. I don’t care about the others.”

“If we are going to be bandits, we will be Tai Ah Mountain Range’s most powerful bandits. Our gang will only accept the most powerful and courageous men. I definitely won’t accept cowards who bully the elderly, the weak, women, or children,” As Yang Dong spoke, his face radiant with delight. He totally displayed the demeanour of someone who controlled a huge gang.

“Here are thirty thousand taels of gold. This amount should be enough for you guys to start a gang.” Teng Qingshan took out a wad of gold notes and said, “You guys should depart this afternoon.”

“Yes, Teacher,” both Yang Dong and Teng Shou responded quickly.

Yang Dong’s eyes lit up, while a vicious glint flashed in Teng Shou’s eyes. As Teng Shou had grown up amongst beasts, the bandits’ savageness was a character which he was most familiar with.

“One was a vicious beast and the other one was a bandit at a young age. These two are my disciples,” Teng Qingshan smiled bitterly as he thought to himself.

Teng Qingshan then sent Yang Dong and Teng Shou away from Nanxing County.

On the third night after they departed to Tai Ah Mountain Range:

Teng Qingshan sat cross-legged in the training field, cultivating silently. He was the only one in the spacious training field. For a moment, Teng Qingshan had almost merged as one with the training field.

Then suddenly…

“Someone actually dared to sneak in here?” Teng Qingshan opened his eyes.

“Whoosh!”

A figure alighted swiftly on the training field. He instantly noticed Teng Qingshan and appeared to be surprised.

“Entering without an invitation,” Teng Qingshan said to himself with a nonchalant smile.

“Hmph.” The figure in black suddenly leaped out. With lightning speed, he dashed before Teng Qingshan. As a bladelight flickered like a shining silk, the blade was maneuvered silently toward Teng Qingshan’s head.

Teng Qingshan was still seated cross-legged on the ground. His right palm launched out like a large seal. Despite striking later than his opponent, Teng Qingshan still managed to hit his target first. He smacked the bladelight directly.

“Boom!”

The bladelight seemed to crack like the moon’s reflection in the water. Involuntarily, the black clothed figure retreated several steps and crashed onto a tree. As the boom sound rang out, the tree which had a trunk as thick as an adult human’s thigh collapsed.

“Who are you?” Teng Qingshan shot an indifferent glare at the intruder while threatening, “Tell me your name or die!”

The figure in black stared at Teng Qingshan in shock. He then pulled off the black cloth which covered his face, revealing a callous complexion akin to a carved sculpture. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. At this moment, the man in black cupped his hands together and said respectfully, “I am the commander of the Heavenly God Palace’s Energy Destroyer. Greetings, Lord Huhe!”